Liu Yuanchen, a Frank and Honorable Gentleman

The Blood Bat Sect disciple had not attacked him, leaving Liu Yuanchen somewhat disappointed.

Perhaps Chen Changlin was here, and that Blood Bat Sect disciple was too weak to face both of them at once.

He thought to himself, It seems it really won't be easy to shift this trouble onto the Chen Household.

Since the Blood Bat Sect disciple did not dare make a move, there was no point in staying here any longer.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, I still need to patrol some other places. Farewell."

Those ordinary words sounded sweeter than heavenly music to Chen Changlin.

He cursed furiously in his heart, *Ten days! I haven't even dared close my eyes.

Every day, I've had to stay on high alert, terrified that something might disturb him.

This plague god is finally leaving.*

For a cultivator at the Ninth Qi-Nourishing Layer, going three to five days without sleep was no great matter.

But keeping one's nerves taut, constantly patrolling everywhere, and doing so for ten straight days—no iron man could endure that.

Liu Yuanchen left Blackrock Mountain and returned to the Three-River Estuary Swamp.

Along the way, he sent Mo Lianshan a message. Besides assuring him of his safety, he also asked about the Blood Bat Sect disciple's activities over the past few days.

In his reply, Mo Lianshan lavished Liu Yuanchen with praise.

Over the past few days, none of the patrol disciples sent out from Qinghe Town had suffered any further losses.

One patrolling disciple had encountered a sneak attack by an eerie method.

As soon as the blood poison took effect, he felt weak all over.

The two disciples traveling with him hurriedly took out Antidote Pills and gave one to him. The afflicted disciple's condition improved considerably.

The three returned to Qinghe Town, and after resting for two days, the afflicted disciple made a full recovery.

After that, no more sect disciples were found turned into dried corpses.

Liu Yuanchen had an idea. *That Blood Bat Sect disciple failed in his attack, so he can naturally guess that the Azure Elixir Sect disciples know the weakness of his methods.

Next, he will either give up hunting Azure Elixir Sect disciples along the Qingshui River, or seek out lone targets.*

*If it's the former, there is truly nothing I can do.

If it's the latter, then I will be that Blood Bat Sect disciple's only target.*

Before long, Liu Yuanchen arrived at the Three-River Estuary Swamp.

Evil cultivators did not dare act within Chen Household territory.

Then he would stay farther away and, once the evil cultivator struck, lure him into Chen Household territory before killing him.

He found a spot at the edge of the Three-River Estuary Swamp, sat cross-legged in meditation, and casually used the Jia Wood Withering-and-Flourishing Art to nurture several large trees around him.

For now, these trees were still isolated sentries. Once he cultivated more trees in the future, they would all become part of an intelligence network.

Night fell, and the creatures that hid by day and emerged at night began stirring in the swamp.

Though it was already late autumn, hardy cold cicadas still cried out with heart-rending shrieks.

They seemed to be lamenting their vanished youth and the approaching end of their lives.

Together with the bleak moonlight cast by the cold moon, it filled the air with desolation.

Suddenly, the cicadas' cries stopped at once. The fish and shrimp swimming on the water's surface also seemed frightened and sank to the bottom.

Liu Yuanchen understood that the opponent he had been waiting for had arrived.

He released his Divine Sense and sensed the life force of the surrounding plants.

Within seventy zhang, no strange creature appeared.

Not long afterward, a faint smell of blood drifted over.

Moreover, the scent of blood grew increasingly strong.

Liu Yuanchen secretly rejoiced. I've waited for you for several days. You've finally come.

He put on an unconcerned appearance while the Azure Ape Astral Force within his body circulated, continuously washing through his blood.

The Blood Bat Sect's Demon-Soul Blood-Transforming Art infected the blood through blood poison, allowing it to control all the blood in its target's body.

Once the blood lost control, the target naturally became powerless to resist and could only be slaughtered by the demon soul.

Sea of Qi Realm cultivators possessed stronger Divine Sense, greater control over their own vital energy and blood, and more vital energy and blood.

That small amount of blood poison was not enough to subdue a Sea of Qi Realm cultivator.

Therefore, this method could only be used against Qi-Nourishing Realm cultivators.

Though this technique was hidden and bizarre, it was still nothing remarkable to Earth Immortal Path cultivators.

Because Astral Force naturally restrained this technique.

Astral Force originated from vital energy and blood and could freely merge into the blood.

Although the blood poison released by the demon soul could control a living being's blood, it could not control Astral Force.

Under the washing of Astral Force, most of the blood poison that had just entered his blood was separated out.

Wrapped in Astral Force, the blood poison could not do anything at all.

More than thirty breaths later, an ordinary Qi-Nourishing Realm cultivator's blood poison would already have taken effect.

Liu Yuanchen also put on a pained expression, hurriedly took out an Antidote Pill, and swallowed it.

Then he used Wind-Riding Evasion and staggered toward Blackrock Mountain.

Soon, a black shadow shot out of the swamp and followed closely behind him.

Liu Yuanchen piloted his flying boat to the vicinity of the Blackrock Mountain mine, where it slowly descended.

Just then, a red bat phantom suddenly appeared and drilled directly into his body.

Liu Yuanchen was not alarmed in the slightest. Zhao Hong had already told him the details of this spell.

First, blood poison corroded the blood. Then the demon soul merged into the victim's body, draining away all the corrupted blood and the essence within the flesh.

The blood poison had already been bound by Astral Force. Even after the demon soul invaded, it could not cause any trouble.

He sat cross-legged and circulated his Astral Force to trap the demon soul.

At the same time, he also circulated his spiritual power, pretending to be purging the poison.

At that moment, two fist-sized blue-black spheres of light floated within his Middle Dantian.

One sphere contained a mass of red liquid—the blood poison.

The other contained a blood-red bat—the demon soul.

Bound by Astral Force, neither the demon soul nor the blood poison could do anything.

Just then, a black shadow appeared behind Liu Yuanchen.

Holding a longsword, he was about to slash down at Liu Yuanchen's neck.

A shield appeared behind Liu Yuanchen and blocked the sword.

Liu Yuanchen feigned difficulty. "Who are you? How dare you ambush me? Aren't you afraid my master will take your life?"

The black shadow gave a strange laugh. "Liu Yuanchen, you truly are naive.

Others may fear Zhao Hong, but we do not.

For the sake of my path, I can only borrow your head."

Just then, a furious shout rang out. "What petty villain dares commit evil in Chen Household territory?"

The black shadow naturally did not take the Chen Household seriously. "The Demoncloud Sect is conducting business. Anyone who doesn't want to die should get lost..."

Before he could finish speaking, his entire body went limp, and he collapsed.

Liu Yuanchen was somewhat surprised. The Blood Bat Sect was a major power from beyond the Red Wasteland, so why was one of its disciples so weak? He did not even have a life-preserving measure.

Chen Changlin rushed over. "Fellow Daoist Liu, are you all right?"

Liu Yuanchen chuckled. "I'm fine. Speaking of which, I should thank you, Fellow Daoist.

If not for your assistance, I might have died here."

As he spoke, he stood up and removed the Ghostshadow Awl from the back of the corpse's head.

The man was dressed like an independent cultivator and looked to be only around thirty.

Other than a choking smell of blood, there was nothing unusual about him.

After searching the corpse, Liu Yuanchen found a fairly large storage pouch.

Weighing the storage pouch in his hand, Liu Yuanchen was extremely satisfied.

This fellow had killed several Azure Elixir Sect disciples before, so he had quite a few good things on him.

He stored the corpse in the storage pouch and cupped his hands toward Chen Changlin. "I was able to kill this powerful enemy thanks to your assistance.

Once I return to Qinghe Town, I will certainly request credit for you."

Chen Changlin was still a little dazed. "You're too kind, Fellow Daoist. I didn't help much at all."

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Yuanchen piloted his flying boat toward Qinghe Town.

Chen Changlin found it strange. Why was Liu Yuanchen being so friendly toward the Chen Household?

Liu Yuanchen returned to Qinghe Town and headed straight for the Mission Office of the Azure Elixir Pavilion.

When Mo Lianshan saw him return, he let out a long sigh of relief. "You're finally back. I was truly worried that you wouldn't be a match for that evil cultivator."

Liu Yuanchen took out the corpse and threw it onto the ground.

"This is the one who previously hunted our Azure Elixir Sect disciples."

As he spoke, he also took out six red copper tokens. "I found these on that evil cultivator."

Mo Lianshan examined the tokens, his teeth gritting with hatred. "These tokens belonged to the fellow disciples who died in battle.

You have rendered an enormous service by killing this fiend.

I will send a message to the sect master at once and request credit for you."

Liu Yuanchen waved a hand. "There is no rush. Chen Changlin of the Chen Household was a great help in killing this evil cultivator, and his contribution cannot be overlooked."

Mo Lianshan was completely stunned. Liu Yuanchen was actually taking the initiative to request credit for someone from the Chen Household.

The feud between the Liu Family and the Chen Household had accumulated for nearly a thousand years.

Before Liu Yuanchen became an Alchemy Master, the Chen Household had bullied him terribly, and Chen Household members had even tried to assassinate him.

"Are you sure Chen Changlin deserves credit?"

Liu Yuanchen put on a righteous expression. "Of course. Without Chen Changlin's help, I might have been defeated by this fiend.

Although I have a grudge against the Chen Household, how can I allow a personal vendetta to hinder public affairs during wartime?

Please grant half the credit for killing this fiend to Chen Changlin."

Mo Lianshan solemnly cupped his hands. "Yuan Chen, you truly are a frank and honorable gentleman. This old man cannot compare."

After handing the Blood Bat Sect disciple's corpse to Mo Lianshan, Liu Yuanchen hurried back to the Azure Elixir Sect's mountain gate.

After causing trouble outside, he naturally had to seek out his backer to smooth things over.

Although his master looked down on the Blood Bat Sect, it was still a major power from beyond the Red Wasteland.

Having killed one of their disciples, retaliation would be hard to avoid.

He was especially worried about his parents. If an evil cultivator targeted them, it would be troublesome.

Upon reaching the mountain gate, Liu Yuanchen headed straight for the cave residence at Reflecting Moon Creek.

At that moment, Zhao Hong was teaching Meng Tieshan how to walk across water.

Zhao Hong stepped upon the water without making a ripple, while Meng Tieshan was in a much more awkward state. Every step he took sent water splashing several feet high.

After only a few steps, his clothes were soaked.

Seeing Liu Yuanchen return, Zhao Hong went back to shore. "Did you deal with that little brat from the Blood Bat Sect?"

Liu Yuanchen circulated his Astral Force, and two spheres of blue-black Astral Force emerged from his chest.

"I dealt with him. These are the demon soul and blood poison left behind by that Blood Bat Sect disciple."

Zhao Hong grabbed the demon soul in one hand. Crimson flames blazed in his palm, and in an instant, the demon soul vanished without a trace.

"The Blood Bat Sect lot are rats in the gutter. They never fight head-on and only know how to scheme against people in the dark.

You handled them so quickly. Very well done."

Liu Yuanchen's face was full of worry. "This disciple is concerned. The Blood Bat Sect is also a major power from beyond the Red Wasteland.

Now that I have killed one of their disciples, will they retaliate?

With Master protecting me, I am not afraid. But I worry that the Blood Bat Sect may target my parents and eldest brother."

Zhao Hong waved a hand. "You need not worry about that. Calamity must not extend to mortals; that is an iron law of the Human Race.

If anyone holds a grudge against a cultivator and takes it out on that cultivator's mortal close relatives, they will be breaking the rules.

They would not dare touch your mother or your eldest brother's family. Otherwise, they would be making enemies of the entire Human Race and would certainly die."

"As for your father, our Eight Desolations Pavilion protects its disciples and their relatives within five degrees of kinship.

If anyone touches your father, everyone in the Eight Desolations Pavilion will act."

Liu Yuanchen was still somewhat uneasy. "Will the Blood Bat Sect follow the rules?"

Zhao Hong smiled disdainfully. "In most situations, they will not follow the rules.

But breaking the rules comes at a price.

Before our Eight Desolations Pavilion, the price is one they cannot bear.

More than three thousand years ago, there was a faction that broke the rules against a disciple of our Eight Desolations Pavilion.

As a result, every disciple of that faction was killed, and even those disciples' nine clans were buried alongside them.

No Human Race faction objected to that outcome. They even praised it greatly, and the Divine Court helped us as well."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuanchen finally relaxed.

"Master, when I fought that Blood Bat Sect disciple, I felt that he was far too weak.

Whether in methods or combat experience, he could not compare to Yue Kongming at all."

Zhao Hong said disdainfully, "Our Eight Desolations Pavilion and the Soaring Immortal Sect both select disciples with great care.

After accepting disciples, we also nurture them meticulously.

Every disciple we send out is among the finest of their generation."

"As for the Blood Bat Sect, they accept disciples as if they are playing around.

They take in a heap of outer disciples, casually teach them some low-level evil arts, and never teach them anything else, leaving them to fend for themselves.

Only cultivators who survive and reach the Qi-Nourishing Peak become the Blood Bat Sect's direct disciples."

This Demon-Soul Blood-Transforming Art was one of the low-tier evil arts passed down to outer disciples.

Therefore, there were truly few capable Qi-Nourishing Realm disciples in the Blood Bat Sect.

Most of them were merely on the level of ordinary independent cultivators."

"But you must never let your guard down.

The Blood Bat Sect's personal disciples had all fought their way out of heaps of corpses and were no weaker than the personal disciples of other great factions.

If you grew careless, I fear you might not even be able to keep your life."

Liu Yuanchen cupped his hands. "Rest assured, Master. I will certainly proceed with caution.

Master, I killed that evil cultivator this time on Chen Household territory.

I also asked Elder Mo to help split half of my credit with Chen Changlin of the Chen Household.

Do you think the Blood Bat Sect will make a move against the Chen Household?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hong patted Liu Yuanchen's shoulder in satisfaction. "Now that is my disciple—one who repays every grievance.

You nearly died at the hands of the Chen Household back then. That was a grave enmity.

At the time, you had not yet taken me as your master. If I acted against the Chen Household, it would have been improper.

It has been so long, yet you have not made the slightest move to take revenge. I was getting anxious just waiting."

"Those old geezers of the Blood Bat Sect are all obsessed with saving face.

Outer disciples are nothing. It would not matter if a hundred or eighty of them died, but they cannot lose face—especially not before the weak.

As long as the killing of the Blood Bat Sect disciple is widely publicized here, the Blood Bat Sect will definitely act to preserve its reputation.

The Blood Bat Sect does not dare provoke our Eight Desolations Pavilion, but in their eyes, the Chen Household is not worth a fart.

You lured that evil cultivator onto Chen Household territory and even shared out the credit. The Blood Bat Sect will certainly strike at the Chen Household.